Camborne v Cornish Pirates Match Report

A Worthy Contest for Both Sides

By Phil Westren

Camborne 28 Cornish Pirates 50

After an extraordinarily dry and hot summer, ‘Champ’ side Cornish Pirates played this opening ‘friendly’ of the 2026/27 season away to Camborne on Saturday.

The visitors to ‘The Rec’ won with a bit to spare but there was great credit too to the ‘Cherry & Whites’, to give the home team their primary nickname, and who commendably won promotion to National One at the end of last season. Several familiar faces were in their side, which is one whose head coach is former ‘Pirate’ Tom Kessell.

Leading the Cornish Pirates out was Hugh Bokenham, who has returned to the club from Gloucester and was an impressive ‘Champ’ winner with Worcester Warriors last season. He partnered Milo Hallam in the second row, whilst a fellow Aussie associate, Australian 7s player Henry Palmer, was named on the wing. Other selected squad members ready to make their debuts for the Pirates were newly signed prop Jamie Clark, who has arrived from Newcastle Red Bulls, GB 7s winger Josh Radcliffe, and Redruth fly-half Joe Cummins.

In front of a good-sized crowd the Pirates opened the scoring in the fifth minute, when fine work from debutant Palmer led to a try scored by fellow wingman Arthur Relton. Fly-half Arwel Robson added the extras. It was not long though before Camborne levelled matters with a try scored by wing Harry Larkins and the conversion kicked by fly-half Fraser Honey.

The first half proved a closely fought affair. However, the Pirates scored two more tries before the break thanks to flanker Jack Forsythe and Hallam. Robson’s conversion of the latter left the scoreline reading 7-19.

📷Pirates' lock Milo Hallam is pictured in full flight. Credit: Brian Tempest

All but from the start of the second forty a penetrating break by full-back Angus Mawson set up Relton for his second score of the match. The try was not converted but the Pirates were now in explosive, expressive mode, as witnessed when scrum half Dan Hiscocks and Mawson each proceeded to score converted tries

Camborne are though a respected and proud Cornish club, who are also historically referred to as ‘Town’, and they admirably hit back with their second score, a try by second-row Jamie Prisk again converted by Honey.

This was also the first time that the ‘David Roberts Memorial Cup’ was competed for. David, DL OBE, who passed away last December at the age of 98, was a true gentleman and a great servant of Camborne and the county of Cornwall. He would have been immensely proud of Camborne’s performance as they look forward to this season playing for the first time in the third tier of English club rugby.

📷It was at times rough and ready at The Rec! Credit: Brian Tempest

All present were enjoying this sporting and fully committed affair, including Pirates’ prop Alessandro Heaney and Sam Cahill who, besides being the club’s hard-working analyst, is also a gifted player. They both got on the try-scoring sheet, whilst two more deserved late tries scored for Camborne by replacements Ewan Murray and Oliver Doherty, this time converted by full-back Rory O’Kane, made the final score 28-50.

Speaking after the game, Cornish Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“For us the game made a decent first hit out. Camborne committed numbers to the breakdown and were physical, which is exactly what we needed.

“As expected from such an opening pre-season friendly, there is still plenty to work on, but we really enjoyed the occasion.”

Camborne (named team & replacements)

15 Rory O’Kane 14 Harry Larkins 13 Matt Shepherd 12 Will Hennessy 11 Alex Ducker 10 Fraser Honey 9 CJ Boyce; 1 Tommy-Lee Southworth 2 Sam Matavesi (captain) 3 Jon Drew 4 Jamie Prisk 5 Barnaby Waddell 6 Adam Hughes 7 Jordan Nicholls 8 Jago Sheppard.

Replacements: Craig Davidson, Ben Woodmansey, Declan Prowse, Sam Rodman, Jack Heazelton, Freddie Veimosoi, Harrison Hayman, Jay Toogood, Oliver Doherty, Ewan Murray, Oli Roberts, Jake Walker.

Cornish Pirates

15 Angus Mawson 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Harry Ascherl 11 Henry Palmer 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Alessandro Heaney 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Tyler Gendall 4 Milo Hallam 5 Hugh Bokenham (captain) 6 Matt Cannon 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Tomiwa Agbongbon.

Replacements: 16 Matt Pritchard 17 Billy Young 18 Jamie Clark 19 Josh King 20 Barnaby Elderkin 21 Luke Ratcliff 22 Sam Cahill (guest) 23 Joe Cummins (guest) 24 Finn Love 25 Josh Radcliffe 26 Joe Elderkin.

Scorers

Camborne – tries: Larkins, Prisk, Murray, Doherty; cons: Honey (2), O’Kane (2).

Cornish Pirates – tries: Relton (2), Forsythe, Hallam, Hiscocks, Mawson, Heaney, Cahill; cons: Robson (4), Mawson.

Referee: Holly Wood.

(The Cornish Pirates play their second pre-season friendly away to Plymouth Albion this coming Saturday 22nd August – ko 3pm).

📷Pirates' wingman Arthur Relton scored two tries in the match. Credit: Brian Tempest